Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-10-06

DuJ Ne UdQ dlreduN gwen aDu0Qdnb IQSITuC-
ton to those in this region of Capernaum, at
least for present uses. His voyage to the
other side took him to a region Of compare
tive heathendom. Their employment showed
that they were not strict Jews. As Jesus was
departing, seemingly under the pressure Of
his past discourses, and probably with some
heedlessness and impulsiveness, one who had
already professed, as is indicated by the word
''another," and who was himself scholar,
came to Christ with the recognition of au-
thority involved in the word Master" and
said, 81 will follow thee withersoever thou
goest." This was an excellent profession Of
conservation. If it was uttered by Judas,
Christ's warning to him to count well the
cost was exceedingly pertinent. In contrast
with his desire for ease, Christ cites his own
homelessness.
If any excuse would seem to be good for
postponing the following Of Christ, that sug
gested in v. 81 should be so counted. 1t is
the utterance of flial affection, and flial
duty was very highly esteemed among the
Jews No doubt spiritual death is here con-
trasted with physical death, and let the dead
spiritually bury their dead physically
brings out the Saviour's instruction. Even
II this was case of the actual death of his
father, it is only the stronger type Of all the
excuses which grow out of worldly action and
friendly relationship. Whether kindred
are dead in body or only dead in sin, even
though they be parents or nearest of kin,
nothing can excuse US from the immediate
service of Christ. What seem to be duties
will often conflict, but no real duty can be
necessary hindrance to serving Christ. He is
first and always first.
V. 1921. The departure.-Mark says that
more ships were present than this one into
which Christ and his disciples entered. As
the fleet set sail, nearly the whole leadership
Of the incipient church was on that sea- 1t
is not wonderful then that the prince of the
power of the air should stir up all nature to
wreck the whole fleet, but especially the par
ticular ship on which were found Christ and
his disciples Probably all of the twelve were
present and heard the strictness required in
Christ's reply to the three with whom he had
lust spoken. II, after that standard of SER
vice was set up, they still followed him,
Satan might well suppose that their courage
would hold out to the last. How far the
prince of darkness is able to affect the forces
of nature we are not required here to deter
mine. 1t is certain that he cannot go beyond
the permission of the head of the church, and
this trip across the sea is proof of that.
Sudden gusts of wind frequently break in
upon the sea Of Tiberias from the surround
ing mountains.
When this ship and its companions were
out upon the sea one of these sudden tempests
broke upon them. The very sea seemed to
be in convulsions. In the midst of all this
Christ was in a quiet place fast asleep. This
is the only place in his life in which
it is recorded that he slept Nothing
else which he could have done would
have indicated his perfect faith and conf
dence in his power to save. His disciples had
not yet learned his power so well as to share
In this sense of security. They were not
towards, but they were terribly scared when
they saw him asleep. They supposed his pro-
lection was also asleep. Their cry of "Lord,
save US: we perish" Quke viii, "a is very ex-
pressive. V. &C. The waves stilled.-And it
is to be noticed that Christ rebuked not
merely the winds, but the sea also Mark iv,
80; Luke viii, 24. If he had only rebuked
the wind the sea would have become still by
and by, but under these circumstances the
proof of the manifestation Of a miracle would
not have been so perfect. The winds often
come up suddenly, and often as suddenly
cease; but when he stilled the sea and its
waves, that was not merely the stilling of the
wind.
v. 81 Who is this2-H we can thoroughly
represent to ourselves this scene, we shall
understand the strong meaning involved in
the expression, "What manner Of man Is
this9" Herein is raised the whole question Of
his nature. Sleight of hand and trickery
were as certainly excluded in this manifesto
ton Of his power as they are in his modern
manifestations of omnipotence in the fulfill
=
required to still the sea and the winds than it
is required to bring to pass the fulfllmeut OF
his word amidst the wars and migrations and
discussions and distresses of the nations.
Alas that these disciples should after this
have ever lost their perfect faith in him, and
much more that after 1900 years of the ex-
perience of Christ's power to protect his
church and bring its work to his destined end
and glory, we should ever, with like unbelief
and fear, cry as if the Saviour was asleep,
Master, Masterl save thy kingdom, or it will
perish.
SUCCESSIVE APPLICATIONS.
The Son of man hath not where to lay his
head, v. 90 Few things touch US more
quickly and deeply than feeling of utter
homeleSsness; yet this was the thought that
was filling the mind of Jesus when he made
the reply to the Jewish scribe. 1t is easy to
sing of being pilgrim and stranger but
to face the real fact is serious and sorrowful
business And it would certainly be that
when one like the scribe and man. of the
disciples of old expected to find not only
home by following Jesus, but a share in a
kingdom which would be more glorious than
any on the earth. They were looking not
merely to the spiritual glories and advan-
tages which would come to the subjects OF
that kinGdom; the world has not yet got be-
vond this thought Some are willing enough
to serve the church if they can possess the
temporal honors and the temporal comforts
which church and home bring. And yet
there is but one true home, a mansion which
Christ has gone 20 prepare: and those who
have no place in that home are the most alb
iect and wrerckAdly homeless of all human
beings.
Lord, save US; we perish, v. 25 In the
voyage of life, with a calm sea and sunny
skies, good health, and food, and comfort,
men sail on regardless of the future, as they
are regardless of the God above them. But
when the sky is beclouded and the sea rough
ened and the storm comes on, and there is
danger on the wave, then man begins to
think. When the storm deepens and the
waves nctSubcHs III lie CIlcS Oub IuGIO
re other storms than those on the sea; there
are other dangers than those which beset our
physical life; there are some positions and
storms which sweep our characters and try
our strength and threaten wreck to our spir-
itual natures Happy is it for US if we cry
out then like the disciples of old, Lord, save
US; we perish"
HINTS FOR PRIMARY CLASSES.
The lesson for the little folks may COM
mence with v. %, but this one should be con-
nected with the last by brief review and a
mention of some of the intervening facts.
The questions for today must recall the
healing Of the centurion's servant at Caper-
naum, the centurion's faith and the teachings
Of Jesus Then state the fact that Simon Pc
ter's mother-in-law was cured Of fever by
the touch of Jesus hand and the command of
his words.
Give an idea of the multitude that thronged
Jesus for the cure of diseases, many Of which
were incurable by ordinary means At length
the order was given to depart to the other
side Of the lake, and the weary healer went
to the stern Of the boat to lie down quietly
and take some rest. The sea Of Galilee is